Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1st John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As we continue our series on forgiveness, today’s lesson will be on forgiving ourselves. I feel sure that we all at one time or another have struggled with this. Our tendency is to think we have messed up so badly that God could never forgive us. We beat ourselves up over something that we have done that we knew was wrong to do, or maybe it was something we simply failed to do, only later to feel disappointed in ourselves, and possibly even experience embarrassment before others and certainly shame before God.

Matthew 6:14-15ML
“For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also; but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Many years ago, I received what I consider the ultimate in betrayal from someone I truly trusted. The painful blow left me reeling. I was hurt beyond anything I had ever experienced. I remember feeling every emotion that was possible, from sadness to anger, back to sadness and on to disappointment and even grief.

It was so unsettling I began to doubt and question myself. It really threw me off course. I knew only God could give me the strength to keep my thoughts and my emotions in the right place, so that I could continue to treat this person as I should.

Psalms 107:1
(KJV) O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 69:30
30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Oh how it would please our God if we came before Him just to say thank you. If we came just to express our gratitude for how he provides and takes care of us in every way from our spiritual needs to our physical needs. He has carefully thought of and provided everything according to what he knows is best for each of us individually and as a whole. The very air that we breathe is a gift from Him. Our salvation of course is His greatest gift to us.

Many times we fill our days with complaints of this or that. We grumble not realizing that we are so, so very blessed.

A women’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”

Max Lucado

Matthew 25:35-46
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

In this moment, this very second, take time to breathe. The laundry will get done and the dishes will be there when you go back to them. The dog will get fed and dust will still be on the coffee table. Although this paints a very messy picture, and by the way I am not suggesting being unorganized or that you never clean again, but what I am saying is that there is something so much more important that you must do first today. You must stop, get still, and breathe. As you breathe, your spirit will becomes quiet and guess what you will start to sense our sweat Savior’s presence. Just sit and commune with Him. Bask in his presence and let him bathe your soul with his unfailing love. Starting to feel calm? Now you are ready to read from His Holy Word and hear Him speaking directly to you. Just listen, let Him speak first, after all He has been waiting for you. This won’t take long. His voice will guide you and instruct you for this day. This time if only for 10 minutes will calm your anxieties and bring the cares of this life and this world back into their proper perspective. Yield yourself to His will for this day. Don’t struggle or resist. He knows what’s best.

Just trust and obey. Be ever so thankful for this great gift of such a wonderful loving Father and His desire to take our ordinary lives and give them extraordinary purpose. Now you are equipped and ready to go back to your day. Have a Blessed one.

Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know I am God…”

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song, I praise him.

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you